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Monday, September 18, 2017

London: Jump For My Love

My big trip this year included a weekend stopover in London, a return to Calabria after five long years, and some island time in Sicily.

There were multiple times during the trip when the music playing was the perfect match to the situation. For example, in one London cab ride while driving over Tower Bridge, the Scissor Sister's "Jump" came on the radio, and I was transported into my favorite movie, Love Actually, and the Prime Minister Hugh Grant's jolly little dance scene.

In Palermo, at one point there was ironically (and much to all tourist's sick pleasure) an accordionist playing the theme to The Godfather, and another evening, our outdoor bar's live band played the Beach Boy's "California Girls", making Brittany and I feel like extra-special guests in the audience!

But before I "Jump!" ahead, let me tell you more about my few days in London with Lauren and Letizia. Lauren's currently living in London, and having a comfortable, homey place to stay with a friend was so convenient and fun. We enjoyed lots of time at and near home, from heart to hearts on the couch, to dining out at pubs and restaurants, to Greek take-out while watching A Knight's Tale. She was thrilled (inexplicably almost to the point of tears) with my
gift of three cans of her favorite, nonexistent-in-Europe sparkling
water. Sometimes it's the simplest things!

My first day in London, I hopped from the British Library to a massage/facial, and then swung by Borough Market before heading home to meet Lauren and Letizia.

Letizia took the train in from Paris to join us for Friday-Sunday. Before my trip to Europe last summer, it had been four years since we'd seen each other. Now, we've had three meetups in the last 12 months! For this quick trip, we managed to pack a lot into 48 hours. Such as...

Dishoom

We are all obsessed with this place and it was an awesome way to kick off our weekend together! Each time I go the waiters recommend different things and I'm never disappointed.

Strolling

Letizia could've made a great career as a paparazzi! Saturday we meandered towards Regent Street (eventually having to run to make it in time!) for high tea. She almost never walked next to me, always a step behind snapping photos. Along the way, we found Borough Market, The Globe Theatre, amazing artist galleries, a multitude of buskers, and spectacular views over the Thames. The people-watching was top-notch! We could've spent the whole day just wandering and discovering little pockets of London life.

Letizia couldn't stop saying how much she'd like to be and could see herself living in London. For now, we'll satisfy ourselves with weekend visits!

Being Excessively British

Our tea reservations were at the Oscar Wilde Room in Hotel Cafe Royale. Their website claims that, "It is in this very room that Oscar Wilde fell in love with Lord Alfred
Douglas, Aubrey Beardsley debated with Whistler, David Bowie retired
Ziggy Stardust and Mick Jagger, [and] the Beatles and Elizabeth Taylor danced
the night away."

The setting was opulent, with floor to ceiling mirrors framed by gold gilding, and small tables surrounded by velvet chairs and benches.

We felt very posh, and pinkies lifted of their own accord. High tea is always such a luxurious, pampered experience and I'd like to go to one weekly!

That evening, we decided to take in a show, and chose the most local one we could find, Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour, knowing we would never see this one anywhere else. Perhaps if we'd more thoroughly read the website ("Prepare thyself for…really rude language, flashing lights,
pyrotechnics, lots of sexual references, excessive drinking, and
extensive use of the smoke machine"), we might've been less surprised by the show!

More than anything, I couldn't believe how thick the cockney accents
were, and it wasn't until about halfway through that my ear really
started to grow accustomed to it. The entire cast was made up of young
women playing teenage girls (and really whatever other role was
required) on a not-so-pious choir trip, and it was a very intimate, raw,
and moving show.

We were hungry afterwards (not believing we still needed food after stuffing our faces full of finger sandwiches earlier that afternoon), so we popped into the Smoking Goat, a BBQ/Thai restaurant in SoHo. If you go, you have to get the chicken wings (just trust me).

We were infatuated with our bartender/waitress, the very image of worldly, who was half Argentinian, half African, born in Venice, Italy, and spoke English perfectly. There are so many fascinating people in the amalgamation that is London!

Markets

Sunday revolved around markets. After coffee in a converted watch tower near the house, Letizia and I made our way (on a double-decker bus, no less) to Brick Lane, an extra-vibrant section of Shoreditch with tons of unique shops, markets, food trucks, food halls, performers, and more. We were seriously overstimulated, but happily so.

Eventually we made our way to our goal, the underground vintage market. After some time, we
realized it wasn't just a giant vintage store, but a compartmentalized
market with each section reflecting the unique finds and talents of its
buyer/collector/bedazzler. Once we realized that, we had to backtrack and return a few items we had been considering, but in reality had stolen!

Towards the back of the market, I was in trouble. I had found the most luxurious vintage fur collar, and in a color not matching my hair. I was in love! I wore it around for at least 30 minutes, chatting with the tight network of stall owners (including a Baby Spice look-alike with a chihuahua) in that area, and trying to justify a purchase that I'd hardly ever have the opportunity to wear. Fortunately, I was able to bargain down what was already a steal and now I finally own my own arctic fox fur! Now I just need to drum up fur-worthy occasions. Letizia, I see a Paris opera in our future.

We had so much fun!

Then we headed back to the London Bridge neighborhood to meet up with Lauren for lunch at the quaint and very local Maltby Market. Hidden under the railway arches, amidst wood planks and forklifts that are fully functioning during the workweek, are delicious food stalls with everything you can imagine: gourmet grilled cheese, bratwurst, African burgers, gin & juice, fluffy waffles, and more.

We each grabbed something and brought it back to the table for an international feast accompanied by Greek wine and followed by waffles covered in chocolate and berries. More than anything, what was amazing about this market was the friendly, neighborhood vibe. Everyone was just so happy to be there sharing their Sunday together.

Note the wood and forklift in the background!

Vanna Waffle

After that, Letizia and Lauren both had to head back to reality. I had one more day in London, which was spent emptying my wallet around Regent Street, Carnaby, and St. Christopher's Place. Then it was time to make my way to Calabria...

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Travel Size Me

Back in the Bay after one year at l'Università di Bologna and two working for Georgetown at Villa Le Balze in Florence, I'm delighted and determined to make this American chapter in my life as blog-worthy as the last. And if some gelato sneaks its way in, well really I just can't help that.